The LMG and the Minigun are the most terrain-damaging conventional weapons available in Enemy Unknown\Within: Both inflict roughly 1/4 of the damage dealt by a Frag Grenade (XCOM: Enemy Unknown) against destructible cover (three times more than the Assault Rifle), therefore being the most reliable weapons at the beginning of the game at exposing aliens via gunfire.

Given that a missed shot might miss both the enemy and the cover used by him entirely, however, this particular manuever is simply not an optimal solution against entrenched foes, being better suited for situations where the entire squad takes average/low percentage shots against an enemy in Overwatch, for instance.

The real world influence for this gun may be the FN Minimi machine gun, known as the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) in the U.S. military.

When fired in a normal attack, its rate of fire sounds to be roughly 600 rounds per minute, comparable to LMGs/GPMGs firing the heavier 7.62 NATO round. The bursts that are fired from the Suppression ability, however, have a cyclic rate that is audibly much higher, at 800 to 900 rounds per minute, like the M249, chambered for the 5.56 NATO round. This is not a discrepancy, as it is possible the LMG used by XCOM, like certain firearms in real life, has a switch to set the cyclic firing rate, by means of a valve on the gas impingement return port.

Judging by it's size, ammunition consumption per attack, and damage, it could be assumed that the LMG is fired without focused accuracy. Compared to the other conventional weapons, the LMGs rate of fire should tear apart targets easily if the majority of the rounds hit, especially at close range. However, the damage values are likely designed around game balance rather than realism.